TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

West Coast Times, Issue 10670, 24 December 1897, Page 3

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

IHTfIRPBOYINGIAIi

[Per United Pbess Association.

Wellington, Dec 23. At a meeting of the Philosophical Society some discussion took place on

the recent earthquakes, which were so severely felt at Wanganui. Sir James "'" ' Hector said the reason why njore earthquakes appeared to be felt in Wellington than in other places in New Zealand, / was simply because records here were more accurately kept. The direction o f the recent earthquake at "Wellington was from south of east; Wellington lay 16 miles to the west of Wanganui and i f the earthquake Arrived .at Wanganui from south-west, as reported, it must have changed its direction or comp from another source The earth-ware catne to Wellington from south of east and in its passage northward it probably started some fracture or slip in tie earih's crust which struck Wanganui and did the damage reported. From this it is evident that the Wanganui earthquake must have been a fresh one and produced by the progress of the wave which gave but a slight shock here. A Gazette extraordinary issued to-day formally prorogues Parliament until the 17th of February. A Swede named Matts Mattson was drowned last evening near Paremata. A party of ten were out fishing and he attempted to swim the channel, but sank and yas drowned in sight of his comrades. The body was not recovered. January 28th is the date for the payment of the income tax. * A notice in the Gazette alters in some respects the arrangement for computing the foxes on the Government railways. It will be brought ints force when the through line to Napier is opened. Return tickets between Wellington and Napier

See Fourth Page.

will be available either by Government or the Manawatu line for two months froni the date of issue. Aucklami, Dec 23. By a fire at Kiugsland this afternoon flve houses were destroyed. There was no water or fire brigade. The fire originated at Henry Hayson's, tinsmith, whoso insurance is not known. Robert Ellis' dwelling was insured for £200 in the South British; Ohas. Clark, 8 roomed honse £400, Norwich Union ; Thos. Barnaby, butcher, £200 in South British ; Chas. Henderson 6 roomed house, £400, in the Imperial. The origin of the fire is not knowu. The fire indirectly led to a f ttal accident at the Kingsland crossing, Kaipararailway. Mr and Mis Frederick battley were driving home to Mount Albert from Auckland. ' The horse in the buggywould not pass the burning buildings so they turned down to the Kingaland railway crossing to get iiito the Cabbage Tree Swamp Road near the crossing, which is dangerous and there has been several narrow escapes there already owing to v point of land shutting out the view of the line. A special goods train came along and the horse, already excited by the fire, dashed towards the train. The advancing carriages struck the hind wheel of the buggy and Mrs Battley was thrown under the wheel, being dragged 60 feet and killed. Battley received a concussion on the head by the passing waggons but it i s not dangerous. The driver jumped down to hold the horse but it was unmanage-

able and he was thrown under the buggy and injured but not dangerously. Battley was ex-manager of the Loan and Mercantile Company. The deceased lady leaves a grown up family.